Oh boy. I wasnt going to respond but here I am. If a high kick is used correctly(proper range, timing, as a follow up technique) then they are effective. I have no reserve over using them on the street and have numerous times effectively, not having it backfire once. The key is knowing which kicks work and which dont. Id never use an ax and a side kick only if surrounded. Front kicks and roundhouses are good. Hook kicks are good if you can use them with the same speed as your roundhouse.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rand:Isshin i do not mean to sound disrespectfulbut not everyone kicks exactly the same

some people may kick slow and ONLY be able to use low kicks

some people may be able to kick extremely fast and can use high kicks SOMETIMES

[/QUOTE]Rand,If you're sparring you can kick as high as you want,Kumite/Sparring should never be confused with selfdefense. Several things to think about. FOr example,WHile kicking low rapid kicks,You hav a better chance of disabling you adversary,As I've said before you would be able to move with ballance,As well as power,& It will also enable you to have a quicker foot work. PS It's better to train with practical,& Yet very nasty low kicks,Then to kick high,& then endup on the 6 O clock news. [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif[/IMG]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rand:i dont know about you but a quick round kick or shin kick to the ribs or lower torso for me is pretty quick [/QUOTE]Rand I'm not gonne say you would'nt be able to do those techniques in a one,On one altercation,But so many fights are within arms lenght<or closer.Onething though,WIth every one on one altercation that I've been in,I've never been able to use a sidekick.Just like chen said,A sidekick could only be done if there were more than one attacker,Any thoughts. [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif[/IMG]

Knees work well in the clinch as do elbows, ala Muay Thai. The thing to look for is to make sure that while delivering the knee that you arent open to getting taken off your feet. Move forward with the attack this way your rear leg is at an angle so that it serves as an anchor if you are pushed backwards.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by wt3264:Perhaps the reason that we still put so much emphasis on high kicks is because that's the way it's always been done. Sad but true I think. [/QUOTE]As far,As tournements go I would agree with you. [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif[/IMG]